Dear fellow ABCtales users,
I am writing to those who are themselves preparing and writing a manuscript for consideration in publishing. I am writing a children's book and have realised that my plot would spread over to about 300 pages, maybe more. I have considered the following options, ending my manuscript halfway in a cliffhanger, or keeping it as a whole.
My books that I have in the same genre are about 200 pages on average, so I am considering the former. I now write to you for your advice on this matter. Should I go with the former, or choose the latter? I would like to know whether or not my manuscript would lose interest among publishers if I have intended for another book afterwards? If you yourself have knowledge or experience in this, I'd be grateful for your comments,
Thank you,
sincerely
Pmasterkim
Christine | February 24, 2010 - 18:44
Hi
I think you should not end on a cliff hanger yet. If your 'series' was well established and children knew they only had so long to wait for the next volume I think it would be ok, but you have to establish a fan base first. Many children prefer the security of a resolution. Anyway just chopping your book in half wouldn't work it would need to be more rounded than that. However, I agree that 300 pages is a bit long for a children's book but it depends on the age group.
Have you put it on ABC? I'd like to read it. Good luck.
Bellerophon | February 25, 2010 - 09:13
Hi
I think you could definitely find a good cliff-hanger point half-way through and stop there, as long as you make it clear in the synopsis/covering letter that you're planning it as a two-part series, and explain the whole arc of the story. You would have to make sure that it's still a fulfilling book, though - eg some smaller elements should be resolved in order to make it a satisfying read. But generally I think the idea of a series would be of interest to an agent/publisher.
pmasterkim | February 25, 2010 - 23:49
Dear Christine and Bellerophon,
Thank you for your advice, you both put good arguments forward. I think this could definitely be considered as teen fiction, though I aimed for a younger audience. I wouldn't think it was young adult but my fellow twenty-somethings have found some bits to their liking. I definitely have a worth while cliff hanger (a hostage situation so to speak) and I do cover many small issues within the book.
To Christine, if you would like a peek at the first few chapters I can happily send you them, you need only to 'private message' me (I'm not sure of what to call it except that). The first chapter is heavily illustrated I should add, with illustrations every few chapters.
Thank you,
Pmasterkim
WilkyBarKid | February 26, 2010 - 09:38
I think, if you have identified that your target market tends towards a certain word count, that you should aim to work within this limit.
If you are a first time writer, I would suggest your chances of publication are increased by having a self contained single volume novel - but which has characters and a situation with the potential to be developed into a series if there is shown to be a demand.
I don't know how you can be so definite that it will work out to 300 pages. When you get to the editing stage, it is amazing how much can be pruned from a manuscript with no loss to the story.
pmasterkim | February 28, 2010 - 20:18
Dear WilkyBarKid,
Thanks for your advice, I estimated it would be about 300 pages. I written a draft beforehand, and though technically what I'm doing isn't the editing process, the draft was around 200 with subplots not written.
You could ask if the subplots are needed, I think most are, as they build on my characters.
It is now that I ask those of you who know a word count of a teen fiction? Page counts change drastically with font size.
Pmasterkim